Hollywood Glamour Throughout California

Visit these Current Award Nominee Locations

SAG Nominees in San Francisco
Filmmakers created magic in “The City by the Bay” this year, earning two movies filmed in the city SAG nominations. The much-anticipated “Matrix Resurrections” was filmed at locations throughout San Francisco; Joe & The Juice doubles as the coffee shop Simulatte, and fight scenes were filmed near the Salesforce Tower and at a downtown BART station. Visitors to the area can take a self-guided tour through SF and view all the Matrix sites. Many key action scenes in Marvel Studios' “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings" were also filmed in San Francisco.

Ratched Filming Locations in Monterey
Beautiful Monterey County is the backdrop for Netflix’s popular “Ratched” series. “Ratched” takes place in Lucia, which is actually a real town in an unincorporated area near Big Sur, while the on-air Sealight Inn is the Lucia Lodge, a family-run hotel since the 1930s. Other popular filming sites include The Fish Hopper in Monterey and Toro Place Café in Salinas.


Don’t Forget These Past Winner Locations

Modern Family Fans
Some of the most iconic movies and TV shows have used El Dorado County as their backdrop. With a diverse landscape featuring wide open ranch land to lush forests, the area has something for all genres. Perhaps the most famous to film in Gold Country was the beloved “Modern Family” TV show.

Natural Wonder
In the Central Valley, just 20 miles of Ridgecrest lies the Trona Pinnacles. With more than 500 tufa spires, the National Landmark has seen its share of music videos and TV and film shoots, including the popular HBO series “Westworld.”

Star Struck
“A Star is Born,” starring Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, racked up 24 major award nominations in 2019. The popular movie was shot at several spots in Greater Palm Springs including The Empire Polo Club, the Palm Springs Convention Center, Jalisco Tires and Dillon Road.

Making of a Maverick
With the upcoming release of “Top Gun: Maverick,” now is the perfect time for fans to head to San Diego, where much of the original movie and some of the latest movie was filmed. Movie buffs will want to visit the Miramar Air Station, home to Top Gun’s training school, Kansas City Barbeque where Kelly McGillis and Meg Ryan belt out “Great Balls of Fire,” and Mission Beach Plunge.


Famous Set Locations in California

Shasta County
One of the most beautiful regions in California with mountains, lakes and forests, it’s no wonder that the Shasta Cascade area has attracted many filmmakers, musicians and TV producers. Some of the most popular credits filmed in the region include “American Cowboys vs. Aliens,” “Lethal Weapon: Lawmen,” “Mythbusters” and “Top Gear.”

Horror Highlights
For years, Santa Rosa and Sonoma County have been the “It” spot for legendary horror directors including Alfred Hitchcock and Wes Craven. Hitchcock filmed his iconic “The Birds” at Sainte Teresa of Avila Church and the Potter School in Bodega Bay. He also shot scenes from “Shadow of a Doubt” in the area. Craven shot scenes from “The Scream” throughout Santa Rosa.

Get Real
While reality TV has grabbed the public’s fascination, South Lake Tahoe has garnered the attention of its producers. With its stunning mountain and lake landscape, the area was featured in the season premiere of the 11th season of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” and the series finale of “Keeping Up with the Kardashians.” It was also the setting for season 22 of “The Bachelor.”

Wild Wild West
Jutting against the Sierra Nevada, the Alabama Hills is a series of unique rock formations and hills that scream Wild West to filmmakers. Nearly every major Western actor from Gene Autry to John Wayne saddled up a horse to film here from the 1930s-1950s. The site was also the setting for scenes from “Iron Man” and “Django Unchained.”

Star Wars
Death Valley has long been a popular film location for other worldly scenes so it’s no surprise that it caught the eye of the venerable George Lucas. Both “Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope” and “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi” were filmed in the national park.

A-lister Must
Beverly Hills is synonymous with celebrity. Countless movies and shows have filmed in spots like the Beverly Wilshire, The Four Seasons and of course Rodeo Drive. If you’re trying to spot a celeb, book a table at their popular restaurant haunts like Maude, The Polo Lounge or Spago. 

Why Knott
Knott’s Berry Farm is the most famous attraction in Buena Park and the backdrop for many Hollywood shoots including “America’s Next Top Model,” “The Next Food Network Star,” “Parenthood” and “Criminal Minds.”

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